Tailings Storage Facility Operations, Maintenance and Surveillance Manual Oyu Tolgoi LLC

Oyu Tolgoi LLC
Tailings Storage Facility
Operations, Maintenance and Surveillance Manual
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1
Document Number:
TSF-001
Rev:
2
PURPOSE
This Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance (OMS) manual has been prepared for the Tailings
Storage Facility (TSF) at the Oyu Tolgoi Copper mine, Mongolia, and acts as a reference
document for the facility’s operation, maintenance, and surveillance.
Oyu Tolgoi LLC (OT) Concentrator operations personnel, Rio Tinto Technology and Innovation
(T&I) and Klohn Crippen Berger (KCB), the facility’s designers, have provided input to this
manual.
2
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the OMS manual is to define and describe:
3

Roles and responsibilities of personnel assigned to the facility.

Procedures and processes for managing change.

The key components of the facility. Including threshold values, construction plan and QC,
permit requirements and associated regulatory agencies.

Procedures required for operating, monitoring the performance of, and maintaining the
facility to ensure that it functions in accordance with its design, meets regulatory and
corporate policy obligations, and links to emergency planning and response.

Requirements for analysis and documentation of the performance of the facility so that
this information can be used to update the design.

A bibliography of relative design documents pertinent to the TSF operation.

Meet the requirements of forthcoming Rio Tinto Standards for OMS of Tailings Storage
Facilities.
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
3.1
Regulatory Agencies

Environmental Certification - State Specialized Inspection Agency (SSIA)

Geology and Mining Compliance – General Agency for Specialised Inspection (GASI)
3.2
Regulatory Approval

Mongolian Government – Energy, Mines and Resources.

Environmental Certification - State Specialized Inspection Agency (SSIA)

Geology and Mining Compliance – General Agency for Specialised Inspection (GASI)
3.3
4
Regulatory Requirements

Environmental Certification - State Specialized Inspection Agency (SSIA)

Geology and Mining Compliance – General Agency for Specialised Inspection (GASI)
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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4.1
Document Number:
TSF-001
Rev:
2
Organization, Structure, and Individual Responsibilities
The operation, maintenance, surveillance or emergency preparedness and response of the TSF
are the responsibility of the Tailings Management Team (TMT). This team comprises individuals
from OT and KCB. Oyu Tolgoi is the lead coordinator of the OMS manual and is ultimately
responsible to ensure all aspects of the TSF manual are met. KCB is the facility’s Engineer of
record.
Periodic technical reviews (Independent Technical Review Boards) may be commissioned to
review the design and provide updates based on the actual performance. Independent oversight
may also be conducted by representatives of Rio Tinto Technology and Innovation (T&I).
Designated personnel within the TMT, along with their position and responsibilities, are
summarized in Table 1.
Table 1 Designated Personnel for TMT
Position
Personnel and Contact
Information
Responsibilities
General
Manager Concentrator
Andrew Miller
Reports to Chief Operations Officer.
General Manager
– Open Pit
Paul Douglas
Overall Operations and Maintenace review
and implementation, and budget allocation for
TSF operations and maintenance.
Acting in the GM role.
Reports to Chief Operations Officer.
Provision of TSF Construction capability and
budget allocation for TSF Construction.
Principal Adviser Geotechnical
Joergen Pilz
Rio Tinto Group coordinator of TSF, project
review and implementation. Technical
support and review of TSF monitoring at OT
site.
Manager Mine
Operations –
Open Pit
Morris Dzus
Reports to GM Open Pit
Manages Open Pit Mine Operations.
Executes the Mine Plan; which includes TSF
Construction Plan.
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Manager
Technical
Services – Open
Pit
Document Number:
TSF-001
Binsar Sirait
Rev:
2
Reports to GM Open Pit
Manages Open Pit Technical Services.
Produces the Mine Plan; which includes TSF
Construction Plan.
Custodian of TSF Permit and License.
Manager
Concentrator
Operations
Adrian Zarantonello
Superintendent
Tailings
Operations and
Maintenance
Clem Turner
Reports to GM Concentrator.
Manages Concentrator Operations.
Reports to GM Concentrator.
Assures the safety, conformance,
performance and survivability of TSF civil
works comprising Mechanical and Electrical
systems in support of whole of Concentrator
department operations, including:




TSF water balance.
Reclaim barge.
Seepage Collection Pump Station
Tailings Pipeline and seepage
inspections of diversion ditches.
Custodian TSF Risk Assessment.
Superintendent
TSF Construction
Scott Ingram
Custodian of the OMS Manual.
Reports to Manager Open Pit.
Oversight of day to day TSF impoundment
construction and maintenance. Including:
Construction planning:
o Short term.
o Long term.
Superintendent
Concentrator
Operations
Jody Squires
Reports to Manager Concentrator
Operations.
Mike Evans
Oversight of pumping and conveyance of
tailings slurry to TSF.
Tailings discharge (Slurry Density and
Volumes).
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Supervisor TSF
Operations and
Maintenance.
Document Number:
TSF-001
Tsogjavkhlan Sodnomdarjaa
Rev:
2
Reports to Superintendent Tailings
Operations and Maintenance.
Supervise and oversee daily activities of the
TSF Operations and Maintenance team.
Verify and validate technical compliance of
the TSF and Tailing’s Operations and
Maintenance team competencies.
Coordination of TSF Team Training
requirements.
Tailings Engineer
Odkhuu Tsogtbaatar
Reports to Manager Open Pit Technical
Services.
Routine inspections for quality assurance and
quality control, data collection, surveying,
providing planning direction to
Superintendent TSF Construction. Including:
Supervisor TSF
Construction
Munkh-Erdene Amarsanaa;
Bat-Amgalan Sangaa;
 QC reporting.
 QC database management.
 Survey records.
 Instrumentation readings.
 Instrumentation databases.
Reports to Superintendent TSF Construction.
Nasanbuyan Tserenbat;
Day to day supervision of haul, placement,
and compaction of tailings in TSF, general
operations and maintenance of the TSF
impoundment.
Engineer of
Record and
Geotechnical
Consultant, KCB
Howard Plewes
Consultant under Contract.
Design Authority
Project Manager,
KCB
Pam Fines
Periodic inspections for quality assurance,
annual compliance reporting, geotechnical
analysis and risk management of ongoing
construction, instrumentation data review.
Reports to Engineer of Record and
Geotechnical Consultant.
Consultant under Contract.
Project Manages the on-shore and off-shore
QA/QC requirement for TSF Construction.
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Principle Advisor
Environment
Document Number:
TSF-001
Mark Newby
Rev:
2
Reports to General Manager HSE.
Verification and Validation of permitting
requirements.
Government reporting.
Principle Advisor
Water
PAF/NAF classification/compliance.
Reports to General Manager HSE.
Mark Newby
Permitting requirements, annual
environmental reports, water quality and level
monitoring.
Superintendent
Safety Concentrator
Bat-Erdene Dambadarjaa
Independent
Technical Review
Board
Various preeminent specialists in
the field of TSF and Dam
construction.
Ground Water sampling.
Reports to GM Concentrator.
Verify and validate training requirements and
job hazard analysis are completed as
required.
Consultant under contract.
Commissioned as deemed necessary to
effect periodic technical reviews of design
and to provide advice on actual TSF system
performance.
Responsibility of the TMT and the ongoing operation, monitoring, maintenance, and surveillance
of the TSF falls under the General Manager Concentrator for TSF Operations and Maintenance
and the General Manager Open Pit for TSF Construction. Furthermore, for their respective areas
of responsibility, both General Manager’s must ensure adequate resources (both financial and
staff) are made available to ensure the safe, sensible and compliant operation of the TSF.
Change management at the TSF must be prioritised and scheduled with the knowledge of the
TMT. Major design changes or opportunities must be identified by the TMT so that these can be
assessed by the Engineer of Record and independently reviewed. The OT Change Management
system will be applied and change recorded and approved via the on-line change management
system, located at http://otmoc/ . Further templates and policy guidance is located at
http://otportal/HSE/Management%20of%20change/SitePages/home.aspx .
4.2
Competency and Training
Appropriate training programs are required for all personnel involved in the operation,
maintenance, and surveillance of the TSF, including all its components. The Superintendent
Tailings Operation and Maintenance, Superintendent TSF Construction are required to fully
understand and implement the operation, maintenance, and surveillance requirements of the
TSF, and ensure the design criteria for the facility is verified and validated. This is achieved
through consultation with the Engineer of Record.
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All personnel working at the TSF are to have an appropriate understanding of the OMS manual
and their respective roles and responsibilities. Relevant procedures include:

OT Emergency Procedures,

OT Spill Response Plan,

TSF Embankment Failure Prevention Plan, and

TSF Emergency Preparedness Plan.
It is the role of the specific supervisor of the personnel to ensure that training is accomplished and
documented.
As well as understanding of the OMS manual, all TSF personnel are responsible for continually
being alert to visual cues regarding facility performance. Anything observed to be outside of
normal operating parameters, as outlined in this manual, must be reported immediately to the
Manager Mine Operations and Manager Concentrator Operations.
5
OMS MANUAL CONTROL AND UPDATE
This OMS manual is a controlled document, with specified procedures for:
5.1

Distributing, removing and archiving out‐of‐date materials;

Filing the manual and supporting documents; and

Reviewing and updating the manual.
Distribution of Material
A hard copy of the OMS manual will be held by the Superintendent Tailings Operations and
Maintenance. Electronic copies will be available online at the OT Portal within the Concentrator
department portal, http://otportal/concentrator/sitepages/home.aspx.
Additional copies are to be submitted to regulatory agencies, as required.
The Superintendent Tailings Operations and Maintenance is responsible for the management of
change of OMS manual.
Any requests for copies are to be made to the Superintendent Tailings Operations and
Maintenance who will have that name added to the distribution list, providing a numbered copy for
the user, and in doing so, ensure the recipient receives ongoing updates. No other copies (of
copies) are to be made.
Out‐of‐date TSF materials are to be archived by the Superintendent Tailings Operations and
Maintenance. Out‐of‐date copies of the OMS manual are to be collected by the Superintendent
Tailings Operations and Maintenance and destroyed. Several copies of the most recently
superseded versions are to be archived in secure storage as required for legal purposes.
5.2
Manual and Supporting Document Location
The original copy of the OMS manual along with the following supporting documents will be
stored electronically on the Concentrator Tailings section of the OT server,
http://otportal/concentrator/sitepages/home.aspx, and in the Superintendent Tailings Operations
and Maintenance office on site. These documents are maintained and under the control of the
Superintendent Tailings Operations and Maintenance.
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The following items shall be covered or referenced in the filing system:

Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance Manual.

As built drawings from original construction and all subsequent construction phases.

Construction records including performance and construction plans.

All IFC documents including both original design data and all modifications or revisions.

All inspections, QC/QA documentation and annual reviews.

Photographic records.

Correspondence with Engineer of Record and Geotechnical Consultants with relevant
supporting information.

Correspondence with Regulatory Agencies complete with records of compliance and
details of any remedial action.

Copies of independent technical reviews and their findings (ITRB documentation)
Along with the above referenced documents, the following specific reports dealing with the TSF
will be stored in the Superintendent Tailings Operations and Maintenance office, on site.
Emergency Planning Documents
 Oyu Tolgoi Environmental Monitoring Plan.

Oyu Tolgoi Spill Contingency Plan.

MSDS documentation for any material used within the TSF.
TSF Approval Documents
 A letter by Mongolian Government – Energy, Mines and Resources entitled, “Approval of
Oyu Tolgoi Tailings Management Plan”.
Design Reports
 The principal design document: “Oyu Tolgoi Project – Tailings Storage Facility 2010
Feasibility Study Update, “ August 5, 2011. [Includes original starter dike specifications
and drawings.”

A report by KCB entitled, “Tailings Storage Facility Design Summary for Detail Design
Review (Rev.3) – Oyu Tolgoi Project, Mongolia”, dated 3 May 2011.

A letter by KCB entitled, “Final Preliminary Design – Tailings Storage Facility”.

Updated specifications by KCB.

Hydrology Report.
 Environmental Characterization of Samples.
Monitoring Documents
 A letter by KCB entitled, “Tailings Storage Facility – Foundation Movement Monitoring
Update”.

A technical memo by KCB entitled, “Tailings Storage Facility – Instrumentation Data
Update”.
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Construction Reviews
 A technical memo by KCB entitled, “Review of Compaction and Moisture Content at the
Tailings Storage Facility Mill Moisture”.

A technical memo by KCB entitled, Review of Reduced Trafficability and Compaction with
High Mill Moisture Content to the Tailings Storage Facility Mill moisture.

A report by KCB entitled “Review of TSF Surface Water Diversion Berms and Ditches”.

A letter by KCB entitled, “Tailings Storage Facility – Interim As‐ built Construction
Report”.
Tailings Risk Management Assessment
 A report by KCB entitled “Tailings Risk Assessment Oyu Tolgoi Project”.
5.3
Reviewing and Updating the Manual
This manual is an update of operations, experience, and drafts completed since planning for the
OT TSF commenced in 2007, and in its current form will be referred to as Revision 2012‐ 1.
This manual will be updated every five years or after any significant change to personnel,
operations, or design criteria.
TSF design will be reviewed annually with an external design review every 5 years.
An OMS manual will be in place through the full life cycle of the TSF including the end of the
operating phase, into decommissioning and closure.
Annual TSF management system reviews are to include an evaluation of this OMS manual.
6
MANAGING CHANGE
TSF Change management will be in concert with Element 11 (Management of Change) of the Rio
Tinto Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) Management System Standard. Flowchart
1 reveals the TSF change management process.
Details of the Standard and associated templates are located on the OT intranet at:
http://otportal/HSE/Management%20of%20change/SitePages/home.aspx .
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Identify change
Effective Date:
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Document Number:
TSF-001
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2
Conduct an emergency change
Aspect of
business requiring
change
Employee /
contractor
identifies change
Change required
immediately (emergency
change)?
YES
Develop an
emergency
change plan
Assess
hazards and
identify
controls
NO
Obtain proposal
approval
Develop proposal for
change
Obtain
authorisation
Assess nature of change / risks to
determine appropriate tools &
techniques for risk analysis
Identify a Change
Proposer
Describe the change
Implement
change
Assess the risk
and identify
controls
Identify impacted
stakeholders
Develop a
change proposal
Conduct postimplementation
review
YES
Close the
change
Further assessment
required?
NO
Change
Proposal
approved?
NO
Identify the
Change Approver
Implement the change
YES
Develop
Implementation
Plan
Identify a Change
Implementer
Implementation
Plan authorised?
Implement the
change
YES
Close the
change
Further assessment
required?
NO
NO
NO
Review the implementation
YES
Retrospectively
implement the full
management of
change process
Conduct postimplementation
review
Outcomes of postimplementation
approved?
Send post
implementation
notification
YES
Conduct further
assessment
Outcomes of
implementation
approved?
Conduct implementation
review / pre-acceptance
checks
YES
Change completed
Figure 1 Flowchart TSF Change Management Process
7
7.1
FACILITY DESIGN DESCRIPTION
Ultimate Facility Overview
The ultimate TSF is located east of the Oyu Tolgoi open pit and consists of two adjacent square
containment cells (refer to drawing). Embankments will be constructed using mine waste over the
mine life and remain post-closure. The 2 cells will share a common central embankment. (Refer
to the attached drawings D-6001 and D-6002 for a general arrangement plan of the facilities).
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Figure 2 TSF Site Plan
Cells 1 and 2 of the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), with the current ultimate crest level of the
tailings embankments, will have a combined capacity to store 720 Mt of tailings (equivalent to
740 Mt of milled ore) to accommodate the current 15-year mine plan. Two similar sized cells may
be constructed to the east of Cells 1 and 2 to provide additional storage capacity for 1.4 B tons
tailings capacity.
7.2
Facility Components
The TSF comprises the following components:
7.3

Splitter Dykes.

Water Return Pipeline.

Water Return Pump Station.

Reclaim Pond.

Reclaim Barge.

Seepage Collection Ditch.

Freshwater Diversion Ditch.

Toe Collection Pond.

East Toe Collection System.

Emergency Spillway.
Basis of Design and Design Criteria
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The design basis may be found in the August 4, 2011 KCB design report and appendices.
Specifically, design criteria may be found beginning on page 97 of said report.
7.4
Site Conditions
7.4.1
General Surficial Geology
The foundation soils in the TSF area were characterized by extensive field investigations
including 85 boreholes, 150 test pits, 60 standpipe piezometer installations, 37 cone penetration
tests, 14 seismic cone penetration tests and measurements along 7 kilometres of geophysics
lines (see drawing D-6003).
The foundation consists of three main units (from top to bottom): fluvial and Aeolian deposits;
Cretaceous clay; and residual soils and weathered bedrock.
The Cretaceous clay unit controls embankment stability due to its low shear strength, thickness
and potential for development of excess pore pressure under loading, which adversely impacts
embankment stability. Beneficially, Cretaceous clay has a low permeability, and provides a
natural barrier against seepage losses from the impoundment. In areas where the Cretaceous
clay is absent, a blanket of compacted Cretaceous clay will be placed on the foundation to form
this seepage barrier.
7.4.2
Surface Features
Refer to KCB Feasibility Study design report located at:
http://otportal/concentrator/sitepages/home.aspx.
7.4.3
Subsurface Conditions
Refer to KCB Feasibility Study design report located at:
http://otportal/concentrator/sitepages/home.aspx.
7.4.4
Groundwater
Refer to KCB Feasibility Study design report located at:
http://otportal/concentrator/sitepages/home.aspx.
7.4.5
Permafrost
Refer to KCB Feasibility Study design report located at:
http://otportal/concentrator/sitepages/home.aspx.
7.4.6
Bedrock
Refer to KCB Feasibility Study design report located at:
http://otportal/concentrator/sitepages/home.aspx.
7.5
Climate and Hydrology
Refer to KCB Feasibility Study design report located at:
http://otportal/concentrator/sitepages/home.aspx.
7.6
Seismicity
Pore pressures controls the design of the embankments and therefore seismic hazard
assessment was completed by the Research Centre of Astronomy and Geophysics of Mongolia
(RCAG) and KCB as part of the design scope. RCAG identified two known active geologic faults
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in the region; the Tavan Takhil fault located approximately 18 km from site, and the Borzon fault
at 120 km distance. These faults are believed capable of generating magnitude M7 earthquakes.
The Tavan Takhil fault is the most critical because of its nearness to the site. RCAG estimates a
return period of 2250 years for the M7 earthquake.
A deterministic seismic hazard assessment (DSHA) was conducted by KCB to establish
Maximum Credible Earthquake (MCE) ground motions. Based on this assessment, MCE
acceleration with a Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) of 0.32 g for an M7 earthquake on the
Tavan Takhil Fault was selected for embankment design. A set of ten time-histories from past
earthquakes satisfying appropriate selection criteria was chosen and modified to match the MCE
target spectrum. These modified time-histories were used in the seismic deformation analyses
and design of the TSF.
7.7
Tailings Characteristics
7.7.1
Tailings Production
The life of mine plan during the design indicated that the total production of tailings would be in
the order of 2.2M tonnes during the first 5 years. The anticipated tailings production by year
(based on the 2010 OT mine plan) is presented in Table 2.
Table 2 Anticipated Tailings Production
Projected Tailings
Production
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Total
7.7.2
Cell 1 (tonnes)
220,988
835,432
357,895
354,140
382,999
2,151,454
Tailings Characterisation
The tailings compose of non-plastic fine sand and silt, with approximately 60% silt content. To
enhance conservation of water, the tailings will be thickened using a conventional thickener prior
to being pumped to the facility for deposition at 60 to 64% solids by weight. Laboratory jar settling
tests indicate that the tailings density could approach approximately 72% solid density within
several days under self-weight, equivalent to a dry solids density of about 1.35 t/m3.
Additional consolidation due to drying and subsequent placements of tailings will further increase
the density. In recognition of the potential for changes in tailings composition and segregation,
conservative densities of 1.4 t/m3 for starter embankment sizing and 1.5 t/m3 for the ultimate
embankment sizing were used.
Tailings beach slopes could vary from 0.4% to 2.5% depending on location, actual solids content
and rate of deposition. Based on experience with other tailings storage facilities with similar
tailings characteristics, an overall beach slope of 1% was used in sizing of the impoundment. A
conservative approach was taken in sizing the Cell 1 starter embankment to allow for a range of
potential beach slopes between 0.75% and 1.5%.
Note: Actual tailings beach slopes must be measured in the field and appropriate annual
adjustments in embankment heights made to account for the realized beach slope.
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Evaporation tests indicate that the tailings surface dries to a hard, dust resistant crust. However, if
the crust does not form to the extent predicted, the tailings spigot location will be changed
frequently to ensure the beaches remain wet to suppress dust. Observations of crust formation
will be made and documented on inactive sub-cells. A supplemental study is being effected to
better understand crust formation behaviour.
7.7.3
Acid Generation Potential
Refer to KCB Feasibility Study design report located at:
http://otportal/concentrator/sitepages/home.aspx.
7.7.4
Dusting Potential
Refer to KCB Feasibility Study design report located at:
http://otportal/concentrator/sitepages/home.aspx.
8
8.1
CONSTRUCTION HISTORY
Design Criteria based on QA and QC program
Refer to KCB Feasibility Study design report located at:
http://otportal/concentrator/sitepages/home.aspx.
The tailings embankment design considers foundation conditions, fill properties, tailings
deposition sequence, and water management requirements. Design seismic loading was applied
to the design of all sections. Both non-acid forming (NAF) and potentially acid forming (PAF)
waste rock may be used for construction of the main embankment shell.
Note: PAF rock can only be placed in select locations where the likelihood of contact with water
or seepage solutions is minimal.
The Canadian Dam Association “Dam Safety Guidelines” (CDA, 2007) were selected to provide
appropriate design basis for seismic loading, flood protection, and embankment stability safety
factors, based on consequence of failure of the containment embankments. Consequence is
assessed in terms of incremental losses of: life, environmental, cultural, infrastructure and
economic. On the basis of consequence of failure, dams are classified as “low”, “significant”,
“high”, “very high” or “extreme”. The higher the dam classification, the greater the seismic and
flood design requirements.
The Oyu Tolgoi TSF is classified as a “very high” consequence structure in consideration of the
economic, social and environmental consequences of failure. Flood and seismic criteria for the
TSF design have therefore been selected to meet or exceed CDA guidelines. The Starter
Embankment is designed for “high” consequence criteria in consideration of the limited height and
short life of the structure.
The TSF perimeter has been divided into three embankment design sections: the wet section, the
dry section, and the reclaim section; based on the degree of tailings saturation and the likelihood
that water will pond against the upstream slope of the embankment.
Since a pond will be maintained in the reclaim section, that portion of the embankment will
include a zone of low permeability compacted clay and will be raised in the downstream direction.
The wet section, along the East embankment where wet tailings may rest against the
embankment, will be raised using the centreline method. The dry section embankments will be
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raised using a modified centreline method, taking advantage of drier, stronger tailings to reduce
fill volumes.
All sections will include a filter zone of NAF Oxide material between the tailings and the bulk runof-mine rock fill to prevent the migration of tailings. Within each embankment section, NAF rock
fill will be used in portions below the phreatic surface to reduce the potential for development of
acidic seepage. Due to the free draining nature of the rock fill embankments, the phreatic surface
is anticipated to be very low and will be monitored by piezometers. The various embankment
sections are shown on drawing D 6004.
The initial starter embankment will be constructed with low permeability compacted clay and
general fill. The placement and compaction of fill materials will be carried out in accordance with
the technical specifications. Borrow areas will be developed within the TSF to provide some of
this material (see drawing D-5116). The starter impoundment will store start-up supernatant water
and tailings for one year of deposition. The general arrangement and cross-section details of the
starter system are shown in drawings D 5101, D-5111 and D-5112.
Load induced excess pore pressure may develop in the Cretaceous clay foundation and therefore
the embankment stability is sensitive to the thickness of the clay. To account for this, the
embankment perimeter was divided into a number of stability analysis sections, which reflect the
thickness and/or absence of the clay. Each section was analysed and the required extent of a
downstream toe buttress was determined. Buttresses will range from 50 m to 250 m wide
resulting in downstream slopes ranging from 2.5:1 to 6.5:1 (horizontal to vertical).
During operations, an observational approach will be used along with comprehensive monitoring
of embankment foundations and test fills (including monitoring of pore pressure response and
deformation), to confirm design assumptions and adjust construction rates and embankment
slope angles, (see drawings D-5117 and D-5118).
Permanent embankment deformations were estimated for the MCE using three methods:
Newmark (1965), Hynes-Griffin and Franklin (1984) and Bray and Travsarou (2007).
Deformations are predicted to range from 0.2 m to 1.4 m. This amount of movement is acceptable
and will not cause an embankment failure or a release of tailings due to the width of the rock fill
and filter zones within the embankment.
8.2
Tailings Production
The life of mine plan during the design indicated that the total production of tailings would be in
the order of 2.2 million tonnes during the first five years of mine life. The projected tailings
production by year is presented in Table 3.
Table 3 Projected Annual Tailings Production
Projected Tailings
Production
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Total
Cell 1 (tonnes)
220,988
835,432
357,895
354,140
382,999
2,151,454
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OPERATION
9.1
Tailings Deposition
The design tailings storage capacity of the TSF is 720 Mt of tailings (equivalent to 740 Mt
processed ore) produced during the first 15 years of mine life. In addition, the TSF will be used to
store 550 tpd of bottom ash and fly ash coming from the power plant.
Tailings deposition between the two cells is as follows:

Year 2012 to 2018: Deposition is in Cell 1 only;

Year 2018: Deposition is in Cell 2 only; and

Year 2019 to 2027: Deposition is in both cells, at a proportion of 32% to Cell 1 and 68%
to Cell 2.
9.1.1
9.1.1.1
Tailing Pipeline and Pumping
Operation of booster pump systems.
Refer to: ..\6.22 TSF Training\05_Tailings_and_Reclaim_Water
9.1.1.2
Layout of header and spigot pipelines.
Refer to ..\6.12. Tailings Storage Facility\6.12.2 TSF Operations\6.12.2.3 Deposition
9.1.2
Spigot Sequence
Refer to ..\6.12. Tailings Storage Facility\6.12.2 TSF Operations\6.12.2.3 Deposition
9.1.2.1
Water reclaim operation
Refer to: ..\6.22 TSF Training\05_Tailings_and_Reclaim_Water
9.1.2.2
Capturing “contact” water in the toe collection ditch.
Refer to Site Spill Management Plan.
9.1.3
Raising Pipeline with Embankment Crest
Refer to ..\6.12. Tailings Storage Facility\6.12.2 TSF Operations\6.12.2.3 Deposition
9.2
Water Management
Refer to: ..\6.12. Tailings Storage Facility\6.12.2 TSF Operations\6.12.2.3
Deposition\111223 - Prelim Start-up Deposition Summary(for OT).pdf
Refer to the Tailings Water Balance during startup located at:
\\tuul\Data\Concentrator_ONON\6. Tailings\6.12. Tailings Storage Facility\6.12.2
TSF Operations\6.12.2.3 Deposition\090921 - Tailing Water Balance During
Startup.xlsm
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9.2.1
Document Number:
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Storm/Flood Routing
Storm water is routed around the TSF via the storm water drainage ditch.
9.2.2
Annual Construction Plan
Referring to MTO, it is anticipated placing 835,000 tonnes of tailings into Cell 1 in 2013. Table 4
details construction completed to date and OT’s plans for the ongoing construction of the TSF
Cells 1 and 2.
Table 4 Annual Construction Plan Cell 1
Year
2012
Cell 1 Details
Starter sub-cell D constructed from Sta. 0+000 to 0+415.
Splitter dykes for sub-cells C, B and A constructed.
Tailings placement in sub-cell D.
Lifts 1 and 2 planned.
Lifts 3 and 4 planned.
Lifts 4 and 5 planned.
Lifts 6 and 7 planned.
2013
2014
2015
2016
9.2.3
Seepage Collection
Daily monitoring and observational approaches are expected to forewarn of potential adverse
conditions that may be a result of embankment deformation. These include, but are not limited to,
excessive tension cracking on the construction surface, visible slope deformation on the
downstream side slope, and scarping on the construction surface, and monitoring of
instrumentation. These kinds of observations would trigger geotechnical engineering support and
increased measurement frequencies of the instrumentation.
Severity triggers are not easily defined, and therefore any conditions or trends observed to be
uncharacteristic would be handled with urgency to seek a better understanding of risk. Once the
risk has been defined, appropriate steps can be engineered and implemented to rectify any nonconformance.
9.3
TSF Construction Components
Refer to the construction specifications for start-up. The specifications include material types,
gradation limits, placement and compaction is located at:
\\tuul\Data\Concentrator_ONON\6. Tailings\6.12. Tailings Storage Facility\6.12.4
TSF Construction reports
9.4
Equipment Used for Construction
Table 5 lists typical equipment employed in the construction of the TSF.
Table 5 Equipment used for Construction
Excavators
Caterpillar 385
Liebherr 964
Caterpillar 365
Type
100 tonne-5 m
Quantity
3
Status
1
Owned
70 tonne-3.5 m
3
2
Owned
70 tonne-3.5 m
3
1
Owned
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Liebherr 954
Caterpillar 330
Caterpillar 325
Document Number:
TSF-001
55 tonne-3 m
3
30 tonne-2.4 m
25 tonne-2 m
3
3
Rev:
2
3
Owned
1
Owned
1
Owned
Loaders
7m
3
2
Owned
5m
3
1
Owned
Terex T60
60 tonne
16
Owned
Caterpillar 773
55 tonne
5
Rental
Caterpillar 769
40 tonne
2
Owned
Caterpillar 16H
4 meter
2
Owned
Komatsu GD655
3 meter
5
Owned
1
Owned
1
Owned
3
Owned
1
Rental
2
Owned
Kawasaki 115ZV
Caterpillar 976
Trucks
Graders
Dozers
Komastsu 375A5
Caterpillar D8R
8.7 m
3
8.7 m
3
Liebherr 764
Caterpillar D8R
Liebherr 754
Compactors
Caterpillar CS563
10 tonne
2
Owned
Bomag 611
15 tonne
1
Owned
Caterpillar CS74
15 tonne
2
Rental
Caterpillar 825 H
15 tonne
2
Owned
5
Rental
Scrappers
Caterpillar 621
9.5
17 m
3
Adverse Operating Conditions
Potentially adverse conditions must be accounted for in the operation of the TSF. These
conditions, along with mitigated measures of dealing with them, are as follows.
High Rainfall
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
Erosion control. Grade control and compaction of embankment during construction to
seal lifts and prevent pooling of water.

Compaction. May require drying out material prior to achieving compaction. Material
requiring additional compaction effort will be moved to less critical areas of the TSF, for
example placement in an area away from the ultimate embankment slope.
High snow accumulation

Removal prior to lift placements.

Snow dumps will be sited to minimise any erosional impacts during thaw conditions.
Freezing temperatures

Location of placement. Placement in an area away from the ultimate embankment slope
as compaction prior to freezing.

Compaction – must be completed prior to the material freezing
Tailings Characteristics (higher moisture)

Location of placement. Placement area away from the ultimate tailings embankment

Compaction. May require drying out material prior to achieving compaction. Material
requiring additional compaction effort will be moved to less critical areas of the TSF, for
example in an area away from the ultimate embankment slope.
9.6
Surface Water Management
Run‐on surface water entering the TSF is managed through the construction of the freshwater
diversion ditch.
Surface water within the TSF is managed with the construction of reclaim pond and ensuring the
tailings stack is graded to reduce the potential of surface erosion and direct any surface water to
areas in which it can drain away from the facility.
Any surface water that does enter the TSF is directed towards the reclaim pond where it is then
pumped back to the Concentrator.
9.6.1
Flood Management
The most important operational consideration is maintaining sufficient embankment freeboard to
meet the design intent. Freeboard for the reclaim pond is 3m.
Surface water will be managed by storage within the TSF as summarized below and in Table 6.
9.6.1.1
TSF Safety - Operations

The TSF Cell 1 will store the 1 day 1,000 year return period event, which is 103 mm. The
water volume will be reclaimed to the process plant over a period of 3 months
(approximately 190 m3/hr); and

The TSF will be able to safely store the Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) in the
embankment by providing 3 mov.
9.6.1.2

Environmental Water Containment – Operations
A seepage collection pond, located downstream of the TSF, will store the 100 yr event,
24 hour precipitation from the catchment area between the Cell 1 Embankment crest and
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the seepage collection ditches, and the spillway for the pond will safely rout the 1,000
year peak flow.
9.6.1.3

Closure
Safely manage the PMP with either: storage and routing of the flood or with direct flow
over the embankments.
Table 6 Summary of TSF Cell 1 Freeboard
Cell 1 Stage
Operations
Closure
Main portion
1
Ponded portion
Main portion
Ponded portion
Splitter Dykes
9.7
Cell 1 Section
Criteria
Precipitation of
103mm (24hr100yr), and 2 m
pond depth
needed for barge.
Safely route the
PMP.
Safely route the
PMP.
Main portion
Ponded portion
Freeboard (m)
Height above
Height above
water (m)
tailings (m)
n/a
0.5
1
n/a
n/a
n/a
0
n/a
n/a
0.5
0.5
n/a
Environmental Protection
It is every employee’s responsibility to report a suspected spill or uncontrolled release event to
their supervisor. This includes suspicious flows of water out of the area, escaping tailings, any
signs of turbid creek water, etc. The significance of multiple sets of eyes is that time plays a
critical role in mitigating an emergency situation. The sooner appropriate persons can begin to
correct a situation, the less likely it is that severe effects will follow.
Given that the tailings are placed in a semi-saturated state and filter materials are a part of the
design to restrict the tailings from transport, it is not likely that any tailings will be released from
the TSF.
Although unlikely, any tailings that are released from the TSF would eventually report to the
seepage collection sump and returned to the reclaim pond.
9.8
Health, Safety, and Security
The Oyu Tolgoi Mine is located in a remote setting approximately 500 km south of the capital city
of Mongolia in the South Gobi Desert. Access either by land or by air.
The mine site is not subject to general public traffic.
Access roads from the Concentrator and Open Pit to and around the TSF are shown on Figure 1.
1
The ponded portion for the Starter Dam will include the northeast corner, extending to the centre
of the East Dam. The ponded portion for operations will include the dam within 500 m of the
reclaim pump barge.
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Established communication throughout the mine site and the TSF consists of a UHF radio and
mobile phone.
All personnel working at the TSF, including contractors, are to have an appropriate understanding
of the TSF OMS manual and their respective roles and responsibilities. It is the role of the specific
supervisor of the personnel to ensure this is the case. In addition to the general understanding of
the OMS manual, it is the responsibility of all personnel involved in the operation of the TSF to be
continually vigilant of changes reflecting facility performance. Anything observed to be outside of
normal operating parameters, as outlined in this manual, are to be reported immediately to the
Concentrator Control Room and Mine Control.
The tailings materials themselves contain trace amounts of reagents added in the milling process.
These reagents include, but may not be limited to.
As a general precaution, it is recommended that any worker handling or coming into contact with
the tailings wash their hands prior to ingesting any food. Further information regarding these
reagents is available in the MSDS compilations found at the Concentrator and in the TSF office.
Workplace safe operating procedures will be in place for those working in the area.
9.9
Reporting
Any observations through the daily monitoring of the facility that identify significant change in the
condition of the facility, or that the design criteria are not being achieved should be reported to the
Superintendent Tailings Operations and Maintenance, Tailings Engineer, the Engineer of Record
and Geotechnical Consultant, and the geotechnical consultant.
This includes all components of the TSF.
Changes to the ongoing operations of the TSF should be reported to the Tailings Engineer,
Engineer of Record and Geotechnical Consultant and the geotechnical consultant.
Any environmental changes to the TSF should be reported to the Environment department and
the Superintendent Tailings Operations and Maintenance.
10 MAINTENANCE
10.1
Objective
The objective of the maintenance program is to maintain the TSF in accordance with all the
performance criteria, legislative requirements, Oyu Tolgoi company standards, and sound
operating practices.
Maintenance for the TSF is limited to the heavy equipment used for the ongoing construction and
the TSF components themselves. Maintenance of the heavy equipment could consist of routine,
predictive, and event‐driven maintenance and will be managed by the Infrastructure Mobile
Equipment Superintendent.
Maintenance for the TSF components is strictly event‐driven maintenance and will result from
inspections completed by the Tailings Operations and Maintenance personal, Tailings Engineer,
and the geotechnical consultant.
10.2
Maintenance Procedures
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A preventive maintenance program is in place for the mobile and fixed plant used by Tailings
Operations and Maintenance personnel at the TSF under the direction of the Mobile Maintenance
Manager and Concentrator Maintenance Manager respectively.
Event‐driven maintenance for the mobile and fixed plant equipment would be due to breakdowns
or incidents. Whether a piece of equipment is down due to preventive, routine, or event‐driven
maintenance, other equipment on site can be made available for use at the TSF as required.
Event‐driven maintenance to the TSF civil components will be directed by the Superintendent
TSF Construction under the consultation of the Tailings Engineer, Engineer of Record and
Geotechnical Consultant and geotechnical consultant. The actual maintenance program
completed will depend on the severity of the occurrence.
Table 7 Routine Maintenance Requirements
Tailings pipeline and valves
Periodic per OEM Specification
Reclaim barge
Periodic per OEM Specification
Toe collection pump houses
Periodic per OEM Specification
Monitoring equipment
Periodic per OEM Specification
10.3
Documentation
Record keeping and documentation of any TSF equipment maintenance is the responsibility of
the TSF Planners.
Event‐driven maintenance for a TSF Construction component is the responsibility of the
Superintendent TSF Construction. It involves completing inspection reports and, depending on
the severity of the event, may involve the Tailings Engineer and geotechnical consultant.
Documentation of any maintenance completed will be used to assess the performance of the
specific component and determine whether the design, operation, or surveillance of that
component must be adjusted.
10.4
Reporting
Reporting of any mobile or fixed plant equipment maintenance is limited to a specific request by
the Superintendent Tailings Operations and Maintenance to the relevant Superintendents.
Inspection reports and any other documentation regarding event driven maintenance for a TSF
civil earthworks component should be submitted to the Tailings Engineer, Engineer of Record and
Geotechnical Consultant and geotechnical consultant to determine whether any adjustments to
the design, operation, or surveillance are required.
11 SURVEILLANCE
11.1
Objective
Surveillance involves inspection and monitoring of the operation, structural integrity, and safety of
the TSF, and must be consistent with the life cycle and regulatory requirements of the facility.
Surveillance of the TSF consists of both routine and event‐driven activities.

Key surveillance parameters and procedures must be identified for:
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
Monitoring the operation, safety, and environmental performance of the TSF;

Promptly identifying and evaluating deviations from expected behaviour that affect
operation safety, structural integrity, and environmental performance of the facility; and

Reporting significant observations for response.
The TSF surveillance program will continue to evolve as the facility changes in design or
performance criteria, site conditions and/or the operation it is accommodating.
All personnel working at the TSF will be involved in surveillance as a routine part of daily
activities, maintaining visual awareness of the facility in the course of their regular or routine
duties, in addition to surveillance‐specific site engineering, instrument monitoring, analysis,
inspection, periodic review and oversight.
Regular inspections assisted by the eyes of all site personnel ensure continued integrity and
performance of the facility. Outside consultants will also be on site periodically inspecting the
facility as part of a regular program of expert review.
11.2
Instrumentation
Piezometers
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11.3
Document Number:
TSF-001
Rev:
2
Responsibility
A number of personnel conduct routine inspections of the TSF. The Tailings Engineer, or
designated replacement, is assigned the responsibility of obtaining the monitoring information and
preparing a monthly report for the Engineer of Record and Geotechnical Consultant and
geotechnical consultant to review.
11.4
Surveillance Parameters
Key parameters of surveillance are identified through identifying and describing potential failure
modes of the dry storage TSF.
Visual observations of the TSF can indicate potential failure modes such as:

Surface – cracking, bulging, depressions, sink holes;

Seepage – new seepage areas, changes in seepage areas;

Turbid water in the natural drainages around or downstream of the facility;

Water or tailings flowing down the stack indicating improper grading; and

A failure or breach of a component of the facility.
Routine monitoring for ensuring facility performance include:

Checking for settlement or holes in embankment crest or benches;

Checking for holes on the surface of the tailings indicating possible piping of material to
outside;

Measuring piezometer pore pressures in the foundation soils during operation;

Measuring ground temperatures using cables in the foundation soils during operation;
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
Surveying TSF components – displacements of waste rock shell or survey monuments;

Water sampling – quality in surrounding and downstream areas; and

Recording weather conditions.
These parameters are further described in the following sections.
11.5
Surveillance Procedures
Table 10 summarises surveillance requirements for the components of the TSF.
These surveillance requirements are the licensed monitoring requirements and conditions
regarding the tailings presented in Oyu Tolgoi’s Mining and Water Use licences.
Table 8 TSF Operations Observations and Monitoring Work Plan (frequency)
Year 1 - 3 Observation and Monitoring
Units
Frequency
Weather and Climate
o
C
average daily temperature
daily
kph
average daily wind velocity
daily
mm
rainfall / snow
daily
tpd
Concentrator flows
(automated)
daily
% solids (wt)
thickener output (automated)
l/sec
quantity of makeup water
daily
ppm
quality of makeup water
(constituents)
monthly
%
survey / measure at stakes
monthly
% solids
take Marcy sample
ppm
observe, photograph and
measure
daily
Oxide Material Properties
tons
Measure in field
daily
ROM Material Properties
tons
Measure in field
daily
Material Delivery
tpd
operational observations
daily
tpd
quantity placed
daily
tons, % -200
quantity placed & % passing
no. 200 sieve
daily
Tailings deposition
Concentrator throughput
Solids concentration - mill
thickener
Make-up water
daily
Embankment / Beach
construction
Beach slope angle
Solids concentration - at TSF
(spigot)
Dust and Emissions
Waste Rock Fine filter-B1
weekly
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Waste Rock General filter-B2
Waste Rock - Sedimentary C
Sand and Gravel Filter - D
Waste Rock - Controlled
placement - F1
Waste Rock - General Fill F2
Non / Potentially-Acid Forming
breakdown
NAF/PAF material
identification
Document Number:
TSF-001
tons, % -200
quantity placed & % passing
no. 200 sieve
tons
quantity placed
tons, % -200
tons
quantity placed & % passing
no. 200 sieve
quantity placed / # passes of
compaction equipment
(trucks)
tons
quantity placed
%S
% sulfur in waste
NAF/PAF Balance
Rev:
2
daily
daily
daily
daily
daily
daily
Update with mine plan
quarterly
Oxide Material Properties
%S
Measure in field (blastholes)
daily
ROM Material Properties
%S
Measure in field (blastholes)
daily
column leach tests to assess
ARD potential
quarterly
Leaching
Cretaceous clay (Geotechnical)
performance
monitor and perform trial
Measure in field / download
DAS (data acquisition
system)
Kpa
Piezometers
Inclinometers
Surface Survey monuments
monthly
cm or cm/day
Measure in field
cm
Measure in field - GPS
quarterly
quarterly
turbidity
observe & sample
daily
%
observe
bi-monthly
ppm / turbidity
Process water constituents /
turbidity meter
daily
Decant Performance
Pond Clarity
Subaqueous beach stability
decant pond water quality
Water Balance
3
m /time
3
m /day
measure return water (pump)
flows
Update water balance
calculations (spreadsheet)
quarterly
daily
Surface Water Sampling
toe ditch seepage
ppm
Environmental Constituents
quarterly
Other seepage
l/day
observe, sample as observed
quarterly
Groundwater Monitoring
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Groundwater sampling and
analysis
ppm
operational monitoring bores
ppm
Monitor well network
sampling (various
constituents)
pump well network (various
constituents)
Rev:
2
quarterly /
semi-annual
quarterly /
semi-annual
Notes:
Indicates some form of
automated acquisition
system should be used.
Automation possible
11.6
Adaptive Management
Fundamental to successful adaptive management of the tailings production, handling and
placement are triggers for management action. If the tailings handling and deposition is not
meeting critical performance objectives according to specific conditions, the Superintendent
Tailings Operations and Maintenance will be expected to follow Table 9 for appropriate corrective
action.
Close monitoring of the performance of the TSF will be critical in determining if and when action
will be required.
Table 9 Triggers and Actions under Adaptive Management for Tailings Management
Monitored Item
Triggers and Thresholds
Action
Inclinometers
Acceleration of
Movement
Tailings Engineer will review existing inclinometer Data
quarterly.
(to be fitted)
Tailings Engineer will read inclinometer and determine if
tailings placement or construction plan requires modification.
Monitoring and review will be increased to weekly until
determined unnecessary (movement rates halt).
Tailings Engineer will determine if additional instrumentation
is required.
Tailings Engineer will complete analysis of mitigated
measures should abnormal results continue.
Vibrating Wire
Piezometers
Varies by location – see
geotechnical
instrumentation
drawings.
Tailings Engineer will plot trends and review existing
piezometer data monthly.
Tailings Engineer will conduct a site visit and determine if
tailings placement or construction plan requires modification.
Monitoring and review will be increased to weekly or daily
until determined unnecessary.
Tailings Engineer will determine if additional instrumentation
is required.
Tailings Engineer will complete analysis of mitigated
measures should abnormal results continue.
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Ground
Temperature
Cables
Ambient Temperature <
0°C at XX m depth and
greater.
Document Number:
TSF-001
Rev:
2
Tailings Engineer will review temperature data to identify
frozen ground conditions, ice lenses, etc.
Tailings Engineer will conduct a site visit and determine if
tailings placement or construction (fill placement) requires
modification.
Tailings Engineer will determine if additional instrumentation,
investigation or analysis is required.
Tailings engineer will determine the suitability of new fill
placed on frozen ground conditions
Tailings Engineer will complete analysis of mitigated
measures and/or determine whether recently placed frozen
fill should be removed based on findings.
Oyu Tolgoi to complete survey of area of interest to monitor
any future displacement, settlement, if any.
Beach Slope
Measure average beach
slope and determine
variation from 1% design
assumption.
Tailings Engineer will record tailings levels on stakes and
periodically survey beach slope to observe design
conformance.
Beach slopes impact freeboard and dyke raise requirements.
Minor variations in between 1 % (+/-) slope will modify need
for dyke raises. [Note: starter dam design incorporates
beach slope variations from 0.7% to 1.5% with nominal slope
of 1% used in design.] Flatter beach slopes (lower solids
content) require more frequent east dyke raises. Steeper
beach slopes will require deposition line to be raised.
Survey
Monuments
Displacements between
> 25 mm in any
direction.
Tailings Engineer will review survey data to evaluate whether
frost related or slope related movement has occurred.
Monitoring and review will be increased to bi-weekly until
determined unnecessary.
Oyu Tolgoi to complete survey of area of interest to monitor
any future displacement, if any.
Tailings Engineer will determine if tailings placement and/or
construction plan requires modification.
Tailings Engineer will determine if additional instrumentation
is required.
Survey
Monuments
Displacements greater
than 25 mm in any
direction
Tailings Engineer will review existing piezometer,
temperature, and survey data.
Tailings Engineer will conduct a site visit and determine if
tailings placement or construction plan requires modification.
Monitoring and review will be increased to semi-weekly until
determined unnecessary.
Oyu Tolgoi to complete survey of area of interest to monitor
any future displacement, if any.
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Tailings Engineer will determine if additional instrumentation
is required.
Tailings Engineer will complete analysis of mitigated
measures should abnormal results continue.
Tailings Material
Solids Content
If tailings are less than
58% solids by weight.
Solids content variations in the tailings will impact beach
slopes and hence impact freeboard requirements on both the
U/S (west) and D/S (east) ends of the deposition area.
Tailings engineer to survey beach slopes and plot beach
slope trends over time.
Identify freeboard and dike raise requirements due to varying
tailings deposition density.
Adjust construction sequence to maintain freeboard.
Identify areas of wind erosion or dried tailings crust due to
variation in beach slopes.
Evaluate filter operations to determine methods to increase
efficiency in collecting water from Concentrator slurry.
Reclaim Pond
Level
Survey reclaim pond
level.
Survey reclaim pond and dyke level to assure that 1 m of
freeboard is maintained before next planned dyke raise.
[Freeboard may be measured relative to maximum operating
level of decant barge at its current position.]
Confirm that freeboard will be maintained over winter, when
next dyke raise can be completed.
Diversion
Ditches
Tailings Runoff
Tailings Solids
Presence of abnormal
cracking, erosion or
failure
Report to Superintendent Tailings Operations and
Maintenance, take corrective action as required.
Visible turbidity in runoff
or excessive erosion
evidence
Address runoff at source.
ARD potential is
indicated.
Expand monitoring program.
For diversion ditches, repair and re-establish flow lines
immediately to prevent co-mingling of tailings and natural
waters.
Apply appropriate runoff, erosion or sediment control
measures
Identify locations of ARD (PAG-Potentially Acid Generating)
tailings in impoundment and time periods over which PAG
was placed.
Conduct study of options to minimize acid generation.
Pit and Borrow
Sources
(Construction
Material)
ARD potential is
indicated.
Tailings Surface
Survey indicates >X
m/season tailings
Assure that PAG materials are not placed in areas
designated NAG only (such as lowermost 3 m of
embankment shells or near final embankment slopes)
Change source material and use material without ARD
potential
Stop or adjust tailings placement in that area.
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Elevation
placement.
Document Number:
TSF-001
Rev:
2
Identify freeboard and future dike raise requirements
considering season and ability to raise dike.
Engineer of Record and Geotechnical Consultant review
topographic survey data and assess freeboard requirements.
11.7
Documentation
Routine reporting of surveillance results is essential to provide time to make adjustments to
existing systems or to initiate Emergency Response Plans. It is imperative that any unusual
information (outliers) gathered from these undertakings be communicated to the Engineer of
Record and Geotechnical Consultant, geotechnical or environmental consultant.
Document control is vital to ensuring the ongoing performance of the facility. Table 10 identifies
the overall responsibilities for surveillance record keeping.
Table 10 TSF Surveillance Documentation
Task
Responsible Party
Information Recipients
Weekly Check Sheet
Completed by Construction
Engineer
TSF Construction Superintendent – copy.
Superintendent Tailings Operations and
Maintenance – copy.
Oyu Tolgoi Mine Engineering Server.
Monthly Placement Asbuilt
Completed by Construction
Engineer.
TSF Construction Superintendent – copy.
Manager Mine Operations – copy.
Manager Technical Services – copy.
Oyu Tolgoi Mine Engineering Server.
Engineer of Record and Geotechnical
Consultant – copy.
Instrumentation Data
Completed by Construction
Engineer.
TSF Construction Superintendent – copy.
Superintendent Tailings Operations and
Maintenance – copy.
Oyu Tolgoi Mine Engineering Server.
Engineer of Record and Geotechnical
Consultant - copy
Construction Photographs
Completed by Construction
Engineer
TSF Construction Superintendent – copy.
Manager Mine Operations – copy.
Manager Technical Services – copy.
Oyu Tolgoi Mine Engineering Server.
Acid Base Accounting
(ABA) Testing.
Completed by Open Pit
Department
TSF Construction Superintendent – copy.
Manager Mine Operations – copy.
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Manager Technical Services – copy.
Oyu Tolgoi Mine Engineering Server.
Water Quality Monitoring
Completed by Environmental
Department
TSF Construction Superintendent – copy.
Superintendent TSF Operations and
Maintenance – copy.
Manager Mine Operations – copy.
Manager Technical Services – copy.
Manager Concentrator Operations – copy.
Original reports located with Manager of
Regulatory and Corporate Affairs.
11.8
Reporting
Observation of any unusual occurrence should be reported immediately to the TMT. Unusual
occurrences include but are not limited to the following:

Triggers and Thresholds outlined in Table 9;

Any seismic event;

Settlement, cracks or slumping of the tailings stack;

Slope failure of any of the slopes;

Abnormal seepage from any of the slopes;

Increased or high turbidity flow from the finger drains; and

Damage to any component of the TSF.
All reports are to be maintained by the Superintendent Tailings Operations and Maintenance and
filed in a suitable format and location (business readiness e-room and RTBS) for easy access by
authorised mine personnel, and for review by government agencies. Annual performance reviews
will be copied to the regulatory agencies.
The requirements of the consulting geotechnical engineer, other departments, or governmental
agencies may dictate certain items that require inspection, monitoring, or reporting.
12 EMERGENCY PLANNING AND RESPONSE
12.1
OT Emergency Procedures.
Refer to: OT Emergency Procedure.
The mine site has established procedures and response plans detailing in the following
documents:

Oyu Tolgoi Spill Contingency Plan.

MSDS documentation for any material used within the TSF.
These documents provide the relevant guidance on actions to be taken in case of an emergency.
They also provide notification procedures.
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12.2
Document Number:
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Rev:
2
TSF Emergency Procedures
Daily visual and routine instrumentation monitoring programs outlined in Tables 8 and 9 are
expected to forewarn of potential adverse conditions to the TSF. Triggers and Thresholds
presented in Table 9 must be adhered to and reported on as outlined.
The TSF has been designed to maintain its structural integrity throughout its operational life;
however, a number of conditions can affect the performance of the TSF.
Refer to: ..\6.12. Tailings Storage Facility\6.12.1 TSF Safety\Oyu Tolgoi - Checklist - TSF
Safety Emergency Plan - 24 Jun 11.docx
<Refer to: ..\6.14. Compliance and SWPs\TSF Embankment\TSF Embankment Failure
Prevention - 9 Jun 12.docx
12.3
Environmental Emergencies
Environmental emergencies of various natures and their specific response procedures are
outlined in the Oyu Tolgoi Spill Contingency Plan. This document includes immediate response
procedures and follow up and notification measures appropriate to the particular nature of the
emergency.
Refer to: OT Emergency Procedure.
12.4
Key Contacts
Table 11 TSF Key Contacts
Position
Personnel and Contact Information
Superintendent Tailings Operations and
Maintenance
Clem Turner
Superintendent TSF Construction
Scott Ingram
Superintendent Concentrator Operations
Jody Squires
Tailings Engineer
Odkhuu Tsogtbaatar
Supervisor TSF Construction
Munkh-Erdene Amarsanaa; Bat-Amgalan Sangaa;
Nasanbuyan Tserenbat;
Supervisor TSF Operations and
Maintenance
Tsogjavkhlan Sodnomdarjaa
Superintendent Safety – Concentrator
Bat-Erdene Dambadarjaa
Superintendent Safety – Open Pit
Jennifer Sutcliffe
Manager Mine Operations
Morris Dzus
Manager Technical Services
Binsar Sirait
Manager Concentrator Operations
Adrian Zarantonello
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12.4.1 Engineer of Record and Geotechnical Consultant and Geotechnical Consultant
Position
Personnel and Contact Information
Principal Adviser – Geotechnical
Joergen Pilz
Engineer of Record and Geotechnical
Consultant, KCB
Howard Plewes
Design Authority Project Manager, KCB
Pam Fines
12.4.2 Local Authorities
Position
Personnel and Contact Information
National Compliance Superintendent Environment
Erdenetuya Ganbold
Superintendent Environment
Bayarjargal Batsukh
Superintendent Safety - Concentrator
Bat-Erdene Dambadarjaa
13 CLOSURE
TSF structures will be stable on closure and shall not impose a risk to public health and safety, or
the environment.

The TSF will be closed as a dry facility.

Consolidation and drain-down of the tailings will minimize geotechnical risk.

Dust control could potentially require the placement of a layer of rock-fill over the tailings,
or potentially rely on the crusted tailings to control dust. Test plots will be carried out
during operations to confirm the basis for design of the cover.

A low permeability cover will be placed over the PAF waste rock to minimize infiltration of
surface water. All natural surface water flow will be directed away from contact with the
PAF waste rock to minimize the potential for leaching and “contaminating” surface runoff.
Test plots will be carried out during operations to confirm the basis for design of the
cover.

Major precipitation events (Probable Maximum Precipitation) will be either be stored on
the surface and evaporated, or safely routed down the face of the dam.

The fate, transport, and impact of seepage will be assessed; short and, if required, long
term measures for collection and evaporation will be developed and implemented.
14 REFERENCES AND RELATED DOCUMENTS
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Name
Location
Legal and Other
Requirements
Drawings issued for
construction
SSIA and GASI Certification
File Server
General (D-510x)
D-5101 (A2MW-4200-10Z-401) – Site General
Arrangement.
D-5111 (A2MW-4200-10Z-402) – Starter Embankment
Plan and Detail.
D-5112 (A2MW-4200-10Z-403) – Starter Embankment
Sections and Detail.
D-5113 (A2MW-4200-10Z-404) – Reclaim Area Plan.
D-5114 (A2MW-4200-10Z-405) – Reclaim Area Sections.
D-5115 (A2MW-4200-10Z-406) – Clay Liner Plan and
Sections.
D-5116 (A2MW-4200-10Z-407) – Borrow Sources and
Excavation Plan and Detail.
D-5117 (A2MW-4200-10Z-408) – Embankment
Instrumentation and Ground Water Monitoring Plan.
D-5118 (A2MW-4200-10Z-409) – Embankment
Instrumentation Sections (Sheet 1 of 2).
D-5118 (A2MW-4200-10Z-424) – Embankment
Instrumentation Sections (Sheet 2 of 2).
D-5121 (A2MW-4200-10Z-410) – Water Management
Plan.
D-5122 (A2MW-4200-10Z-411) – Toe Collection Ditches –
Profiles and Sections.
D-5123 (A2MW-4200-10Z-412) – Diversion Ditch – Profile,
Sections and Detail.
D-5124 (A2MW-4200-10Z-413) – East Toe Collection
Dyke – Plan and Sections.
D-5125 (A2MW-4200-10Z-414) – East Toe Collection
System – Plan and Detail.
D-5126 (A2MW-4200-10Z-415) – East Toe Collection
System – Concrete Sump Details.
D-6001 (A2MW-4200-10Z-416) – Site Plan.
D-6002 (A2MW-4200-10Z-417) – General Ultimate
Arrangement – Year 15.
D-6003 (A2MW-4200-10Z-418) – Site Investigation Plan.
D-6004 (A2MW-4200-10Z-419) – Ultimate Embankment
(Year 15) – Plan and Sections.
D-6005 (A2MW-4200-10Z-420) – Water Reclaim – Layout
and Sections at Year 5.
D-6006 (A2MW-4200-10Z-421) – Toe and Diversion
Ditches – Ultimate.
D-6007 (A2MW-4200-10Z-422) – Cell 2 Starter
Embankment Plan (Year 5).
D-6008 (A2MW-4200-10Z-423) – Closure Plan.
File Server
Canadian Dam Association Dam Safety Guidelines 2007.
File Server
TSF Starter
Embankment (D-511x)
Water Management
Structures (D-512x)
Information Drawings (D600x)
Reference
File Server
File Server
File Server
Forms, Checklists,
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Permits, Templates
Records
Document Number:
TSF-001
TSF Red Book, Construction Reports, Field Instructions
and Field Memos.
Rev:
2
TSF Engineer
Communication /
Training
TABLES
Table 1 Designated Personnel for TMT
Table 2 Anticipated Tailings Production
Table 3 Projected Annual Tailings Production
Table 4 Annual Construction Plan Cell 1
Table 5 Equipment used for Construction
Table 6 Summary of TSF Cell 1 Freeboard
Table 7 Routine Maintenance Requirements
Table 8 TSF Operations Observations and Monitoring Work Plan (frequency)
Table 9 Triggers and Actions under Adaptive Management for Tailings Management
Table 10 TSF Surveillance Documentation
Table 11 TSF Key Contacts
FIGURES
Figure 1 Flowchart TSF Change Management Process.
Figure 2 Site Plan.
Figure 3 TSF Instrumentation.
Figure 4 Surface Drainage Sub-catchments.
APPENDICES
Appendix A Geotechnical Design Report – Tailings Storage Facility, Oyu Tolgoi Mine, Mongolia
 Starter Embankment construction specifications.
 Embankment construction specifications.
 MTOs for Life of Mine.
 Equipment fleet and haulage.
 NAF/PAF delineation.
 OT closure plan.
 OT Risk Assessment and Register. ..\6.14. Compliance and SWPs\1. Safety
General\Risk Assessment - Tailings Storage Facility - Operations and Maintenance - 7
Jun 12.xlsx
15 DOCUMENT CONTROL
File Name
Description
Original Author(s)
Creation Date
Oyu Tolgoi – TSF Operations, Maintenance and Surveillance Manual
Guidance document for TSF Operations, Maintenance and Surveillance
Clem Turner
30 July 2011
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Approved By
Approval Date
Change Record Number
Document Number:
TSF-001
Rev:
2
Chelvan Veloo
20 June 2012
Rev 2.0
Revision
Revision Date
Author(s)
Approved By
Revision Notes
.1
.2
1
2
30 July 2011
17 June 2012
20 June 2012
6 May 2013
Clem Turner
Clem Turner
Clem Turner
Clem Turner
Chelvan Veloo
Chelvan Veloo
Chelvan Veloo
Andrew Millar
Draft
Review release
Approved
Roles and responsibilities updated to
reflect organisational structure change.
TSF Construction owner is GM Open Pit.
TSF Operations and Maintenance owner
is GM Concentrator.
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16 APPENDIX A –
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